An aide to Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub has been remanded for four days for allegedly receiving a luxury watch as gratification from a developer.
The 47-year-old aide is being investigated under Section 16 (a) of the MACC Act.
The remand order would expire on April 5.
Last night, Salahuddin pledged not to interfere in the investigations.
“I hold fast to the principle of rule of law and I am confident MACC would conduct its investigation fairly and independently,” said the minister in a statement.
Earlier, it was reported that MACC detained the suspect after preliminary investigations showed that the RM28,000 watch was an inducement from a developer to obtain projects under the purview of the ministry.
The suspect was arrested at about 5pm when he presented himself at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya for questioning.
Section 16 of the MACC Act criminalises the acceptance of gratification.
Upon conviction, it is punishable under Section 24 of the same act, which provides for up to 20 years' imprisonment, and a fine no less than five times the value of the gratification.
Meanwhile, PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan said he has known the suspect who was once with him in the Islamist party's Youth wing.
“I hope the allegation against him is not true. It is up to the authorities to probe the allegation in a fair and transparent manner,” he added in a Facebook posting. - Mkini
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